How do you keep motivated?

Cat121

Hi all,

I was wondering how people keep themselves motivated?

I'm trying really hard to save save save but being quite new sometimes forget when it comes to that unconcious purchase (i.e bar of chocolate you don't need etc).

I know I haven't done badly but as we all know every little penny counts so I get cross with myself sometimes :mad:

The other thing is the overtime - i've done loads this month so far which is great but have to admit to feeling a 'little hard done by' last night (over it now and am also fully aware that only I can get us out of this). Guess I'm just looking forward to actually being able to take annual leave and not have to do extra work. I feel so tired at the moment it's hard to keep smiling sometimes and find the energy to do the stuff that needs doing round the house and garden

Anyhow - would appreciate your comments on what keeps you motivated (think I will print out a list to look at when feeling down about it all) :rotfl:

Cat xx

GirlRacer_2

I know what you mean Cat121. Sometimes when I'm expecting some extra money I always plan to pay it off my debt but then when it's in my hand/account I feel I need it for 'myself'. I really have to give myself an extra push to make sure it does indeed come off my debt.
I always treat myself when I pay something off. So far I've got about £25 of Boots Advantage points, £10 Boots Pigsback Voucher, £35 of Nectar points and I'm waiting for my £50 of M&S vouchers from Zurich for having my insurance from them through Quidco.

When I pay my Argos card off I'm going on a spending spree. At the moment that is keeping me going!

Catseyez

I worked so many extra hours to clear my debt as quickly as possible and I used to feel the same as you do now. It was particularly frustrating not being able to have a social life at the time. BUT...when the pay-slip arrived and I was able to pay off even more of the debt, all of the hard work was worth it.

Also, I used to stay very focused on the end result and would think about how I would feel once all the debt had cleared. Whilst I was in debt, I used to suffer from recurring nightmares (all money related) and the more I paid off, the more infrequent those nightmares became. They don't happen at all now and my stress levels are very low.

Just think of all the spare money you'll have once all the debt has been paid off! If you do have the occasional day where you think you've spent too much, don't beat yourself up over it. In fact, there's no harm in having the occasional treat if it helps keep you sane.

Littlered_3

I try to give myself baby motivations towards what I want. On top of focusing on the big thing of being debt free, which seems too far away to me for me to concentrate on all the time, I give myself a limit of £10 per week for those extras (magazines, munchies, etc). It's amazing how you suddenly find five minutes to make yourself lunch in the mornings and have water out the cooler instead of buying a coke when you think it's going to cut into your £10. I find it makes me prioritise the little things and makes me spend less. Like, if I know I'm going to be meeting up with a friend later in the week, I figure we might go for a coffee, so I won't want to waste money earlier in the week, because once I've got the £10 for the week, I can't withdraw anymore, it's the rule!

crawley_girl

I think threads like these get started fairly regularly and the reason being is that we all feel like this at some moment in time.

My advice and this is what I do when I feel like I am making no progress is:
* list some stuff on ebay
* write a meal plan for the week
* do some batch cooking
* enter some competitions
* do some cleaning (with stardrops of course!!)
* do the clicks and searches on sites such as quidco & pigsback
* sign up for all the freebies you can get your hands on!
* do a car boot
* use quidco when buying anything on line - especially car and home insurance!
* sign up for the freebie DVD on-line rentals via the cash back sites

With regards to socialising:
* have a bbq and get everyone to bring something
* get mates round for a DVD evening
* get a £11 per month cinema card (but only if you usually go at least 2 times per month)
* organise a clothes swap party
* have a games evening

I would also echo what others have said. I think it is essential to have 'non guilty' money which is yours to spend on as you want. I guess it is up to you to decide what that amount should be £2 a day... or £10 the week etc etc.

Good luck with the motivation Cat, remember that you are in good company here!

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls

Softstuff

I have something very odd to do which keeps me motivated not to spend unnecessarily....

We live very close to a very rich street full of designer shops. I get the OH to drive me down that street and back, and I wind my window down. I see all of the women there coming out with designer bags with most likely thousands of pounds worth of clothes in there.... and yet none of them smile. A lot seem pretty miserable really.

Then I'll head to a charity shop, full of people who say hi, cheery and friendly people who seem without a care in the world.

And that does it for me, I'm happy with a far lower budget, I'd rather be like the people in the charity shop than the rich folks and those rich people are living proof that spending a lot doesn't make you happy.

msmicawber

It's very difficult, I agree, Cat and lots of great recommendations from other posters. It took me years to pay off my fairly meagre debts and when I had my wobbly moments I sometimes used to look through all my the barrage of threatening letters I'd had about my debts, then my credit card statements and see how far I'd come. It reminded me that a bit of depression and despondency was heaps better than the abject terror I'd felt about having out of control debt.

I also used to daydream about now: debt free, a few meagre savings, budget under control.

I hope that helps a bit, but do remind yourself that you've taken control now and you're getting where you want to be. At least you're tired from hard work to sort your life out, not through lack of sleep from fear.

lambanana

I try to think about all the things I can save up for when I've cleared my debts...a house, a wedding, having a baby perhaps...all of which are out of reach as long as I have debt hanging over my head. I just wish I did a job which gave the opportunity for overtime but I don't.

immoral_angeluk

We save up everything over the month and then pay whatever we'd managed to save off a debt at the end. We set ourselves targets every month and seeing our debt savings going up and up until we've enough to pay off the debt keeps us motivated.

JillD_2

Its great to read everyone's tips. We are not in debt but its been a close run thing over the last year and we've had to make cutbacks everywhere. Now expecting baby number 3 and trying to cut back further to set some aside for cash so I can take maternity leave.

Anyway, I did really well the latter half of last year and then when I gor pregnant it went a bit wonky as I've felt so ill with morning sickness. My husband just doesnt get the idea of money saving at all and thinks we should be able to just do what we feel like at the weekends in terms of spending. He was in charge of shopping for Feb as I was so ill and he managed to spend twice our budget. Anyway, I have been very positive up til now but its getting harder to sell it to him and justofy it. I sound like such a stingebag all the time. The final thing was today we went for a picnic with some friends and they had all fancy cheeses and meats, and breads and bags of fancy nuts, while we had our smart price crisps and smart price cheese baps. Which I am more than happy with but I think we was suffering wild picnic envy!
Anyway there is no point to this waffle except to say thanks for the post and the tips and I'll try and take them on board a bit more

Jill

Cat121

Thanks all - think I was just having a wobble, at work now and feeling better about it all.

Can I ask though, what are STARDROPS?